Bracket



July 7, 1942. v R. c. SCHILLING 2,238,344

BRACKET Filed Feb. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1942. R. c. SCHILLING 2,238,844

BRACKET Filed Feb. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 7, 1942 BRACKET Roy 0. Schilling, Wilmington, Del., assignor to The Eastern Malleable Iron Company, Naugatuck, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 18, 1941, Serial No. 379,425

3 Claims.

This invention relates to highway guard fixtures. More specifically, it relates to brackets adapted to hold cables, or the like, to supports such as posts.

On dangerous curve-s and where highways are flanked by declivities and the like hazards, it has become customary to erect barriers along the edge of the highway to prevent automobiles and other vehicles from accidentally leaving the highway. Such highway guard barriers frequently consist of a series of posts linked by cables. These cables are fastened to the posts by means of suitable brackets.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device for supporting guard cables. Another object is to provide a bracket which is strong and capable of withstanding shocks and blows. A further object is to provide a bracket of the above characteristics which will permit adjustment of the clamping tension between the jaws holding the cable. Other objects will become apparent hereinafter.

These objects have been accomplished according to the present invention by the device hereinafter described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of one form of body member;

Figure II is a perspective view of one form of inner jaw member;

Figure III is a perspective view of a cable clamped in an assembly of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure IV is a plan view of a bracket embodying the present invention holding a cable and attached to a. round post;

Figure V is a vertical section of a bracket embodying the present inventionholding a cable and attached to a square post; and

Figure VI is a perspective view of a square post and a bracket embodying the present invention holding a cable and attached to the post.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, it will now be described with reference to the drawings, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described as will become more apparent hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment, the bracket of the present invention comprises 3 parts; e. g., a body member, an inner jaw member, and a securing member or bolt. Referring now to Figure I of the drawings: I is a body member having side flanges 2 and 3 to impart strength thereto, projections 4 and 5 ing 8.

for attachment to a wooden post or other support, end flange 6 forming an outer jaw and in ternal flange 1 having therein a threaded open- Referring now to Figure II of the drawing: 9 is an inner jaw member having jaw l0 and socket ll. Figure III is an assembly showing a cable clamped in the bracket. In this figme, and in Figure V, cable I2 is laid in outer jaw 6 of body member I, threaded part [3 of bolt I4 passes threadedly through threaded opening 8 in flange l and into socket ll of inner jaw member 9. By using a wrench (not shown) or other suitable means, bolt I4, after passing through a hole in a post or other suitable support (not shown), is screwed in the threaded opening 8 of flange l and, because 01" the bolts thrust in socket ll, inner jaw I0 is held in cooperative relation with outer jaw 6 to hold the cable l2. The clamping tension of the jaws on the cable I2 is adjusted by turning bolt [4. The length of the bolt I4 is such that, when the bolt has been screwed into flange 1 to the required distance for clamping the cable l2, the head l5 and washer It will abut the opposite side of the post, or other support, to which the bracket is attached and the bolt will firmly hold the bracket upon the post, or other support. The washer l6 may be varied in thickness to compensate for slight variations in thickness of the post or in order to vary the tension on the cable. The washer may be entirely omitted. In Figure III, the cable is shown tightly clamped. In Figure V, the cable is shown held lightly, but securely in jaws 6 and II]. By omitting the washer [6, or by using a thinner washer, the jaws B and I0 may be closed and the cable 12 more tightly clamped.

While the body member above described is the preferred form of the invention, it may be modified in many ways. For example, if circular metal posts are to be used as supports, projections 4 and 5 can be omitted and the post abut-.

ting end can be concave to fit the post snugly. This is shown in the plan view of Figure V. Side flanges 2 and 3 can be omitted, modified, or enlarged. They may even be extended and bent so as to completely enclose flange 'l and the area adjacent thereto in a box-like structure. Flange 6 may be of uniform cross-section or it may be of varied cross-section. For example, it may be thicker in its central portion and may taper off to a thin edge on the ends near flanges 2 and 3. In this way, an automobile striking and. sliding along cable l2 would pass by flange 6 more readily. Figure VI shows a bracket attached to a square post and holding a cable in its jaws.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt T4, in cooperation with threaded flange I, performs three functions; 1. e., it is adapted (1) to hold the inner jaw in cooperative relation to the outer jaw, (2) to adjust the clamping tension exerted by the jaws, and (3) to hold the body member to the pole or support.

In a broader conception of the invention, the bolt need only perform the functions of holding the jaws in cooperative relation and adjusting the tension exerted by the jaws. These functions would be present in a bracket wherein the bolt is much shorter than shown in the drawings and is entirely within the body member, which latter member is attached to the support by separate means, such, for example, as additional flanges and screws or bolts.

In its broadest conception, the invention comprehends a fixed outer jaw, a movable inner jaw in cooperative relation therewith. In all of the prior art devices comprising movable jaws, the outer jaw is the movable member. This has been found to be undesirable because this results in It is apparent that many Widely different em- 3 bodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, it is not intended to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A bracket comprising a body member having a fixed outer jaw formed integrally therewith, a movable inner jaw member, and means threadedly engaging said body member adapted to hold said inner jaw member in cooperative relation to said outer jaw and to adjust the clamping tension exerted by the jaws.

2. A bracket comprising a body member having one end adapted to engage a support and having a fixed outer jaw formed integrally therewith on the other end, a flange on said body member having a threaded opening therein, a movable inner jaw member having a socket therein and a jaw thereupon adapted to cooperate with said outer jaw, and a threaded bolt adapted to pass through a support, engage said threaded opening and enter the socket of said inner jaw member.

3. A bracket comprising a body member having one end adapted to engage a support, having a fixed downwardly extending outer jaw formed integrally therewith on the other end, and having downwardly extending side flanges, said body member, outer jaw and side flanges forming with a support a bottomless box when in operative position, a movable inner jaw member, and means threadedly engaging said body member adapted to hold said inner jaw member in cooperative relation to said outer jaw, to adjust the clamping tension exerted by the jaws and to hold said body member to a support.

ROY C. SCHILLING. 

